* Taste – Iron Chef Competition will be held Friday, Oct. 8, at the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Palmer Campus in downtown Charleston and will showcase some of the best local chefs in a heated head-to-head battle in the Institute’s state-of-the-art amphitheater kitchen.

* Taste of the Arts on Gallery Row will be held Saturday evening, Oct. 9, at various art galleries in downtown Charleston. The art walk combines Lowcountry art with the culinary arts and will showcase the talents of local artists while offering guests a sampling of appetizers from a variety of Charleston’s favorite restaurants.

* Taste of Charleston (main event) will be held on Sunday, Oct. 10, at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. The event will showcase a sampling of culinary treats from more than 50 of Charleston’s finest restaurants. Additional highlights include the legendary Waiter’s Wine Race, food and wine pairings, a selection of specialty and imported beers, live bands on the main stage and a Kids Corner (complete with pony rides).

This year, the Taste of Charleston’s main event will also play host to officials from the Guinness Book of World Records, as the world’s largest snow-cone will be prepared on-site in hopes of setting a new record.

Tickets for all events may be purchased online at www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com.

The Greater Charleston Restaurant Association is asking the Charleston community to help them celebrate and remember the past three decades of this event by participating in a photo contest. All are encouraged to look back in their photo files and albums and upload their best pictures from past Taste of Charleston events – from 1980 through 2009 – into the event’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/tastecharleston), or e-mail them to Jordan@littledogagency.com. A winner will be chosen from each year to receive a prize package, including tickets to the main event.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the three special events. For more information about the events, contact Kathy Britzius, executive director of the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association, at kathy@charlestonrestaurantassociation.com or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Monique Semper Flynn at moniquesemperflynn.gcra@gmail.com.